Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
About four years ago, a guitar-slinging veteran of the local rock scene named Willy G. began a search around the area for some fresh, new talent to take under his wing.
Maybe it was karma or just dumb luck, but Willy G. hit paydirt with the discovery of a 17-year-old dynamo named Amy K., a spunky blond with the vocal control and stage presence of a singer twice her age. It was like opening up a chocolate bar and finding one of Willy Wonka’s golden tickets inside.
Wisely, Willy snatched her up and threw her onstage – first in an acoustic duo called Tangerine Orange, and later as the frontwoman of cover band Love Stomp – and the payoff was immediate. Amy’s powerhouse vocals and teenage sass had audiences falling all over themselves. Her miniskirts and leather bustiers didn’t hurt the situation either.
Within a few years’ time, Love Stomp (now known as Stomp’d) had become one of the biggest cover bands on the circuit, and Amy K.’s name was known throughout the midstate. But for Amy, something was still missing.
“It was not working out,” she says with a weary laugh during a mid-August interview. “I wasn’t at a place that I wanted to be at all, whatsoever, anymore. Love Stomp was a really great experience for me, because it got me so much live stage experience at such a young age – I mean, I started doing that when I was 18 – but I was just so ready to move on, so overly ready to move on from that. I just wanted to do my own thing.”
While success was no guarantee, Amy took a deep breath and parted ways with the band. But as it turns out, the only thing worse for her than being trapped in a bad situation was being in no situation at all. After a few weeks of sitting on her hands, she decided it was time to make a call to former Love Stomp drummer Jason Betz.
“I was getting really antsy. I was not singing for I think four or five weeks,” she says. “So Jason said, ‘Let’s go jam with these two guys I know, because you’re itching to sing. We’ll see what we all know and have some fun.’ So we went to jam, and it worked out so great right away. We all clicked.”
In a few short weeks, Amy, Betz and recruits Fran and Rick Johns (bass and drums, respectively) developed a repertoire of about 45 songs. And just like that, almost accidentally, the amyKband was born.
“Everything kind of fell into place for us. We weren’t even planning on being a band when I went over to jam,” Amy says excitedly. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been as far as the people that I’m playing with. We all get along so well. There are no problems, there are no issues. I feel like I have learned so much in the last three months between starting all over again completely and being me, just being me onstage. I feel like a whole new person.”
In the band’s three-month career, the amyKband has already worked itself into regular rotation in the area’s biggest cover-band venues, thanks to a catalog of hits that sandwiches rockers like Lita Ford’s “Kiss Me Deadly” and Buckcherry’s current smash “Crazy Bitch” between country, R&B and ’80s tunes.
“It’s a very happy, upbeat show,” Amy says. “I think it has a lot to do with song choice, along with musicianship, along with the whole aura of it. We’re all having a great time, and when you’re having a good time it’s very obvious to people. I just feel lucky to be with this group of guys I’m with.
“It’s definitely a whole new beginning for me, and it’s been so welcome.”
- The Fly sept 2006
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
The 'amykband' is an up and coming force to be reckoned with in the Pennsylvania and Maryland area. Amy and Jason first met when Jason ran into an old band mate from the 'Darcie Miner' days, the infamous Matt Miller aka ‘Milhouse’. Milhouse was playing bass in a struggling band by the name of 'Lovestomp' that needed help with the other half of the rhythm section. Already knowing the rock solid combination between Jason and Milhouse, it wasn't but a blink of an eye before the two old friends were reunited. With Amy on vocals and the power of a watertight rhythm section behind her, 'Lovestomp' reached a higher level of success than ever before, but did plateau shortly there after, leaving the real talents in the project feeling frustrated. Jason and Milhouse pursued other ventures. Jason who also plays guitar went on to work as an acoustic artist and started up ‘Ram Head Productions’, while Milhouse joined 'Wiskerbisket' where he now enjoys playing. Unfortunately Amy was left behind to wade through a seemingly unending revolving door of mediocre musicians, but the recipe was never again the same and the music never tasted as good.
Amy and Jason remained friends and after some discussion between the two, and some good advice from a friend or three, it was decided to move onward and upward. Jason called upon some tried and true former band mates from the 'Molly Bolt' days, Rick and Fran Johns. Although a departure from the norm for the Johns brothers they took to the new material like ducks to water.
With Jason keeping the frame rock solid, Fran keeping the bottom end thick and comfy, fitted with Rick’s satiny guitar work, AmyK finally has a firm bed of music for which to lay her melodic and sometimes aggressive vocals to rest on. These three talented musicians, along with a strong seasoned voice wrapped in a strikingly attractive front person makes the project complete. Rising from the ashes of ‘Molly Bolt’ and ‘Lovestomp’, a phoenix is born and its name is the ‘amkband’
The 'amykband' is not so much a "cover" band but more like a "tribute" band. A tribute to their diverse musical styling that contributes to their unique and distinct sound that will surely carry over to their original endeavors in the future.
With an eclectic variety of music genres to choose from, the 'amykband' aims to please at any venue. Expect to hear anything from country to classic rock, heavy metal to hard rock from R&B to hip-hop, anything in between, and onto originals in the future.
The 'amykband', thanks to its loyal and growing fan base, has already achieved its short-term goals. Any further success is delicious icing on the proverbial cake.
AmyK and the boys, are grateful for the ability to continue doing what they love to do, and that is creating a fun and exciting musical environment for people, to do, what they need to do, and that is enjoy the company of others being themselves. This is the lesson the 'amykband' has learned from experience, and encourages all who attend to try and do the same. The devotion from the band to the fans and vice versa is a good indication that the 'amykband' has a long and successful road ahead.
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